Boston, Massachusetts
What It Is Like to Retire in Boston
Baby boomers looking for a retirement community in an urban environment should put Boston at the top of their short lists. Considered by many to be the historic capital of the U.S., Boston has just about anything that anyone could want. Its downtown is walkable, safe, and interesting. There are many parks and every kind of urban amenity - museums, shopping, restaurants, mass transit, and theatre. Friends and grandchildren will beat a path to your door. Boston's population is just under 500,000, although 4.4 million live in the Metro area. Thanks to the T, its fabled mass transit system, you can live almost anywhere and be downtown in minutes. Photo of A panorama of the Boston Public Garden courtesy of Wikipedia and Rick Harris; photo of View of Boston Common from the Prudential Center observation deck courtesy of Wikipedia and Jared C. Benedict; Photo of Harvard Medical School, Gordon Hall of Medicine, one of the most prestigious medical schools in the world courtesy of Wikipedia and Kentaro Matsui (public domain).
Where to Retire in Boston and Home Prices
There are many great neighborhoods in and around Boston. Streets close to the Charles River can be quite beautiful. Cambridge, home to MIT and Harvard University, has some wonderful areas. Beacon Hill is one of the most posh neighborhoods in America. A walk through it and the nearby Boston Common, the oldest park in America, will explain why. But there are other choices such as the historic North End that are convenient to town. The city is so big that if you are thinking of retiring here you need to spend some time to understand all of the many neighborhoods you could live in. As some experts have said, Boston has examples of every kind of American architecture. While expensive, there are many places to live here, including its many suburbs. According to the National Association of Realtors, the median sale price of a home in the Boston-Cambidge-Newton MA-NH area was $743,200 during the 2nd quarter of 2023.
What Is Special about Boston
American history at your feet. Boston Harbor and the Charles River. America's top universities. Great mass transit. Famous restaurants. Great theatre. Many public parks. The Boston Red Sox
What Is Not Special about Boston
Traffic, High cost of living and taxes, New England winters.
Who Will Like Retirement in Boston
People who want to live in a city with a walkable downtown or near a great university.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Colleges and Universities are major employers in Boston and the spending by college students, which is said to be in the billions, have signifiicant effect on the economy, as does tourism. Boston is home to many high tech companies and is a hub for biotechnology.
Climate and Physical Environment
Boston's climate is that of New England - warm summers, great spring and fall, and cold winters with snow and rain. The Charles River separates Cambridge from Boston, Boston Harbor (home of a famous Tea Party) is to the east. The Mystic River is here as well.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
Boston's theatres include the Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston Opera House, The Wang Center for the Performing Arts, Shubert Theater, and the Orpheum Theater. The city's many universities include Harvard, MIT, Boston College, Northeastern, Tufts, and Brandeis which provide unparalleled cultural opportunities. Its performing arts groups include the Boston Ballet, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Boston Lyric Opera Company, and the Handel and Haydn Society. The city has many important festivals and celebrations during the year. Boston's professional sports teams include the Red Sox, Celtics, and the Patriots.
Crime
The crime rate is well above average.
Medical facilities
Some of the nation's top medical facilities are here in Boston, including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and many more.
Transportation
Logan International is one of the world's top airports. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) operates the nation's first underground rapid transit system, referred to as the T. Amtrak has major inter-city transportation. I 95 and the Mass Turnpike run through or near the city.
Valuable Links
Wikipedia on Boston Boston City-Data More community reviews at Topretirements City of Boston Massachusetts mini-guide to retirement in Massachusetts Boston Convention and Visitors Guide
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